LNP push for privatisation could hijack hospital debate

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EXPERTS fear the State Government has already decided a private operator is the way to go for the Sunshine Coast University Hospital.

A vigorous process has been established to test the relative merits of public or private control of the hospital but there are concerns it will be overwhelmed by a very strong privatisation view inside the halls of power.

Hospital board chairman Paul Thomas said yesterday his board had spent four months establishing a process that would allow a "transparent investigation of the merits of public and private models".

He said the proposal was supported by Health Minister Lawrence Springborg and his Director General.

Prof Thomas said the process had begun to appoint a project director to assemble a team to decide what options best served delivery of efficient, quality health services at the hospital.

Prof Thomas said no engagement with private sector operators would occur until the work was complete.

He said the process would run over the next four or five months and that hopefully a transparent, rigorously independent report would go to state Cabinet in June.

Prof Thomas said there were many myths around the benefits of the private model, but the robust process would produce substantive assessment of what the most efficient and effective service model should be.

"Ultimately it will be a government decision," he said.

Prof Thomas said the board wanted an appropriately conducted study which could be open to public scrutiny so that people could see the various arguments rather than it simply being left to a political decision.

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"There is a very strong view that private is the answer," he said. "I'm worried at the momentum of that thinking. A private business functions for its shareholders for a profit."

The former vice chancellor of the University of the Sunshine Coast said questions had to be raised about the capacity of a private operator to deliver the training, research and education which were hallmarks of major tertiary hospitals.

"Private hospitals have a limited track record in education, training and research," he said.

"I fear the region won't get the most out of the facility (under private control)."

He also has serious concerns about how a regional hospital in private control would interact with the district's hospitals at Gympie, Maleny and Nambour.

Prof Thomas believes that if a Sunshine Coast University Hospital was operated by a private sector operator it may also then require that the same operator took control of Nambour hospital.

He also has doubts about the ability of a totally privatised hospital to deliver, for example, emergency department and mental health services areas.